Aerodacious

(Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious)

Page ccCAM006 (Revised 01/19/2009)

Background: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) authorized the postmaster general to contract for domestic airmail service with commercial air carriers. It also set airmail rates and the level of cash subsidies to be paid to companies that carried the mail. By transferring airmail operations to private companies, the government effectively would help create the commercial aviation industry. Various routes were designated and contracts for carrying the mail over these routes were then awarded to many different private air service companies. The Contract Air Mail routes became known as CAM's.
CAM-6:
CAM-6 was awarded to Ford Transport Lines (Ford Motor Company). Ford had already purchased five Stout all-metal single engine monoplanes and was using these Ford-Stout 2-AT "flying washboards" for daily service between Detroit & Cleveland and Detroit & Chicago. Initially only freight was carried but Ford executives used these flights for business and this attracted other passengers. Ford purchased the (William B) Stout Metal Airplane Co, in Dearborn MI in 1925 becoming the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company. The all-metal Ford-Stout was initially outfitted with a 400hp Liberty engine and was know by several names, the "Pullman," the "Air Sedan" and was nicknamed the "Tin Goose." It was the forerunner for the future Ford Tri-Motor plane.

CAM-6 air service was inaugurated with both east and west flights on February 15, 1926 between Detroit/Dearborn Michigan and Cleveland Ohio. Postal mail covers carried on the inaugural flight between each point of landing and take-off are collectible and are known as CAM-6 covers.
Pilot, Lawrence G Frtiz flew this February 15th CAM-6 inaugural round trip air service between Detroit and Cleveland.